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In the past 10 years, the business model and structure of club sports has gone through a lot of changes with softball being no exception.
In the early days of the sport, you may have had two-to-four teams under the same club name and these organizations were committed to staying small and growing talent from within. The coaches were usually a parent or relative of a player and might start with a 10U team and then would stay with that same core group until they graduated from high school.
The players were primarily local or within the same state and rarely did players leave an organization more than once in their career. Fundraisers were used to pool money together and cover the cost of tournaments and uniforms. In most cases, coaches weren’t paid and many would even dip into their own pockets to cover travel expenses.
In the early 2000’s, organizations started increasing the number of teams under their umbrella and program budgets began to grow to cover all coaching expenses. It increasingly became more common that—if a coach had a player on the team—his or her fees would be covered. It also wasn’t unheard of to pay coaches who had proven winning records as well as the directors who oversaw the organization.
Where we are today few could have predicted, but no one can deny softball is growing leaps and bounds.
According to The City Tribune (Dec 2021), North America will hold steady as the largest market for softball through 2026. And it may shock some to learn that the youth sports market current net worth is $19.2 billion—in comparison to the NFL at $15 billion (December 26, 2019, “Research and Markets, Globe Newswire).
There are no hard numbers to say what portion of the nearly $20 billion is attributed to youth softball but with steady growth in the sport, it would be logical to assume the youth component is worth well into the millions.
There are pros and cons to being part of a large, even national travel ball program—it can mean higher club fees, continual changes within the staff and the constant adding of teams, but it also means wearing a jersey that college coaches recognize and associate with being successful. The larger club can have coaches and staff that are well connected to the softball collegiate world and can assist in a player getting noticed by coaches.
Still, there are many smaller, successful grassroots organizations out there that intentionally stay smaller and have no desire to grow beyond their current reaches… today, we look at one such club.
Select Fastpitch out of Kansas City has been in existence since 2014 and is finding success at every level including finishing as runners-up in this summer’s 18U Premier Division at PGF Nationals in Huntington Beach, California.
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We recently connected with Select Fastpitch’s Co-Founder, Director and Coach Eric Jones about the program’s history and future… here’s what he had to say about this organization’s success:
Extra Inning Softball: Who is the founder of Select Fastpitch?
Eric Jones: Myself and Brad Swanson. Brad is still involved with the organization but is focused on coaching the 14u team.
EIS: How was Select Fastpitch started?
EJ: I stepped away from coaching for a couple years. When I came back in 2014 Brand and I reunited some of my former players who were playing for him and some of those original players that were playing elsewhere while I was on a break from coaching.
EIS: How many teams are a part of the organization?
EJ: We will have close to 20 teams ranging from 8U to 18U with an additional three teams out of Columbia, Missouri.
EIS: Is Select Fastpitch looking to be a national “branded team or is the long-term goal to remain based out of the Kansas City area and develop players locally to be able to compete at a national level?
EJ: We pride ourselves on our development, which continues to improve. We do carry athletes from different parts of the Midwest and country but don’t specifically recruit for that. We have some of the best coaches out there and for us to be able to practice and develop them individually and as a team is very important to us.
EIS: What are some notable accomplishments for the organization?
EJ: Along with taking second at this year’s PGF 18U Premier Nationals, we won the PGF Nationals Platinum Division in 2020 and have been a two-time champion at Top Gun and were among the top teams in the Chicago Rawlings Invitational.
EIS: What is something that’s happened off the field for Select Fastpitch that you’re proud of?
EJ: This past year, we were able to open an indoor facility which allowed us more time to workout and get better. This coming year, our focus is even more on development which includes better programming for our athletes.
EIS: What is your philosophy when it comes to transfer players, both in and out?
EJ: We don’t recruit kids to come in and take spots from athletes that have put the time in. We feel we can compete against the best with our athletes that have been with us. We reward dedication and commitment.
EIS: What are the organization’s core values?
EJ: Select Fastpitch prides itself on three core values which brings success on and off the field: One, pursue the highest level of competition and softball you can play. This guarantees exposure to college coaches and makes our athletes competitively better. Two, build team chemistry both on the field and in the stands. Team chemistry is a must! If we are going to spend this much time together, we have to be close. And three, provide an environment for those who desire to play at the highest level in college, or want to use softball to get the highest level of education they can.
EIS: Your teams are know for unity and working together… not just the players but the coaches and trainers as well. Do you feel that’s been a key to the program’s success?
EJ: We really are a family culture type of organization. We couldn’t and wouldn’t be where we are without the hard work this year of Mike Byrn and Christy Cruse who coached our 18’s. Also thank you to Bryce Kay, Patrick Anderson, Jason Chester, Ron Clary, and Elise Fortier who all touched our athletes in one way or another this year and past couple of years with side workout sessions and development.
Squad goals! Also a huge shoutout to Coach Mike Byrn! He played a huge part with where this team was at the end of the season! He’ll be there for our run next year though! @IggyByrn #selectlife pic.twitter.com/yIyeOaqM76
— Eric Jones – Select Fastpitch (@ejonesrockchalk) August 13, 2022
— Joy Roeder, Extra Inning Softball correspondent